We put in a pretty full day today. It was hot – no wind – and the wheat is plenty dry now. No more worries about green. We can just GO! The test weights remain in the 62 lb range. The field we’ve been working on for the past two days will probably average 50-55 bushels. Not too bad considering this area was suffering from drought this time last year!
The wheat is doing well enough that the combine is full before I can get back to the field. So, Jim dumps that load in the Pete. Eventually, the Pete is full and needs to head to the elevator. It’s at that time I get to jump in the cab of the yellow beast. It’s nice to get out of the heat of the day but even better to be behind the steering wheel of the combine.
Taylor and Callie left home this morning about 8:00 a.m. to begin their 2012 harvest adventure. They were able to follow Mark Rathe from Syracuse, NE to Dodge City, KS. They took off on their own from that point and arrived in Shattuck about 5:15 this afternoon. It was SO GOOD to see them. It’s only been 3 weeks since we left home but it feels like a lot longer.
I just told Jim this afternoon I think about how fast the harvest is going and then I stop and realize… it’s not even June yet! We’ve only been away from home 21 days (which when you put it like that IS closer to a month than not) and we’re nearly done with our second job.
We finished the big field this evening and lucked out with the storms. The weatherman is predicting a better chance for severe weather for our area tomorrow afternoon. I hope he’s wrong!
We were able to move the equipment to the next field which is the one we tried earlier in the week and it was too green. Tomorrow, we’ll begin a new field and new adventures! Did I mention how good it was to have the girls here??
This is the hometown cafe that I mentioned in yesterday’s posting.
Our trailer is parked just behind the cafe. Do you see the pizza hut on the left side of the picture?
View from inside Frank going through the town of Shattuck – headed for the elevator.
More grain trucks were dumping today. Guess the wheat must have finally got dry enough for everyone to start!
Callie taking a ride to the next field with her dad.
Hi guys, Glad to know the girls made it safely!!! LOVE the blogs & pics—almost feel like I`m harvesting, too. HA My Taylor azalea bush is look`n good in my west flower garden. We are REALLY in need of rain here. Stay safe.
By looks of the radar, you’re probably getting rain right now. Your Taylor azalea bush should be happy! This blog is fun because it gives people an idea of what we do and how somebody as small as we are can make it work! Maybe it will give a younger wannabe the hope and desire to carry-on this industry. Thanks for checking in Judeen!
excellent report; i look forward to reading it daily.
🙂 thanks Dan!
Sent from my iPhone
Yes, glad your girls made it to you ok. beautiful day here south of Winfield, ks. Everybody is cuttiing . The weather does not sound good. Sure hope it dries up for a while and they can get done. A farmer finished last field and pulled out somethhing caught the stubble on fire. no injuries to combine or people. Was close so fire trucks got there quick.. Wind has been blowing just enough that could really been badddd. Sharon
I’m glad they made it as well! No rain yet but cells are beginning to develop south of us. A break would be welcome as long as it’s not too long. The girls are struggling in trying to get caught up in the harvest world. It will come for them eventually; they just need to figure out what their job is. I’m glad that you’re able to participate in the wheat harvest even if it’s from the view of your window! People who have never experienced this don’t know what they’re missing!
About 7 pm may 30, it started raining and lot of high wind. No hail. Some north and west of us got hail. Right now at 10:40 pm it is rain, thunder,lightning and wind. South of us about 40 miles in northern Oklahoma they have been getting the same. Our son and family live 5 miles south of Ok/Ks line and west of newkirk,ok. Looks like they are getting same. have not called them.
Could hear combines going until just before rain hit. Hope it does not ruin the wheat..Harvest may be done for few days. Suppose to get more rain next 2 days,but we all know that could change,Sharon
I think we’re supposed to more too. Most of it went around us this evening. It’s nice and cool here now. And lightning. We got a full day in today. We’ve been going pretty hard since we started on the 14th so a day off would be nice!
Sent from my iPhone